Entertainment

RUMOR: Apple to Launch New Touch-Sensitive Mighty Mouse

If you're an Apple iMac owner, you're probably familiar with the Mighty Mouse, Apple's buttonless device launched in 2005. The iconic white mouse with the squeeze sensors and the tiny clickable track ball may have been a unique direction in mouse technology, but it has frustrated many Mac owners to no end - the track ball especially is susceptible to breakage and dirt accumulation. Some have even resorted to using 3rd party or Microsoft-built mice to properly navigate their desktops.

According to a new report from AppleInsider though, Apple's looking to deal with this problem by completely redesigning the mighty mouse. Among the rumored changes: doing away with the track ball, utilizing touch-sensitive technology, and adding multipoint touch detection technology. Oh, and you might see this new Mighty Mouse before the end of this year.

AppleInsider is short on specific details, but refers to recent apple patents that refer to a mouse that translates how you touch and and how you move your hand into movement on the screen. It would also translate into clicks, thus eliminating the need for most buttons or even a track ball. Apple has favored touch interfaces in the last few years, most notably with the iPhone, so this is not a huge surprise.

Adding fuel to the speculation fire, the current Mighty Mouse is on backorder across the country, meaning that Apple's not shipping out the new models at the moment. This is the biggest sign that this rumored mouse upgrade is going to be arriving before the end of the year.

What do you think of this rumor: is it a good development? Would you want to use this mouse? Or are you a fan of the current Mighty Mouse? Let us know in the comments.

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